New Zealand supremo Graham Henry has heaped lavish praise on Wales coach Mike Ruddock ahead of today's showdown between the two nations at the Millennium Stadium.

The plaudits have been flying in the build-up to the game this week with Ruddock hailing Henry as the finest coach in the world.

Henry was labelled as a the Great Redeemer during his time in Wales with the highlight coming in 1999 when he led the nation to 10 successive victories on the way to the World Cup quarter-final.

But not even Henry could match Ruddock's achievement of winning a Grand Slam with Wales achieving a Six Nations clean sweep in his first year in charge.

'To win a Grand Slam in your first year as an international coach is huge and something not many coaches achieve,' said Henry.

'Mike is a great coach and a top man.

'He has been through the development system in Wales and made the hard yards which people in our position appreciate.

'And he is now reaping the rewards.'

Henry is an admirer of the free-flowing style that Ruddock has advocated since his appointment as Wales coach and believes Wales will adopt similar tactics against the All Blacks today rather than reverting to a forward-orientated game.

'I think Wales will want to play the type of style that has made them successful over the last couple of years and that has seen them win the Grand Slam,' said Ruddock.

'But in any game of rugby you need to get some forward dominance to establish a platform to play that type of rugby.'

Today's match between Wales and New Zealand is a special occasion 100 years after the first meeting between the two nations which Wales controversially won 3-0 with the All Blacks not awarded a try by Bob Deans.

Henry admitted the class of 2005 are aware of their history and had been given a presentation on the 'Originals' tour.

'It is a hugely significant game with Wales playing the All Blacks 100 years after that famous first encounter,' said Henry.

'We have had a special meeting about that and hooker Anton Oliver gave a presentation about the 1905 All Blacks tour and what they achieved.

'They spent six weeks getting here on a boat and they were nine months away from home.

'And they only lost one game in Wales and they were robbed!'

Henry is a man who understands the importance of rugby in both countries after spending time in both camps and admits playing against Wales will always be a special experience for him.

'When I prepare a team to play Wales in Cardiff it is an unusual feeling, one that you don't experience when you are playing other nations,' said Henry.